Head-to-Head · City Comparison
Palmdale, CA
VS
Pearland, TX
🏆 Pearland leads 18 of 22 categories
Palmdale
California
4
wins
Cost of Living Index
115.5⚠ High
Median Household Income
$78,414
Violent Crime Index
145⚠ High
Population
166,895 ✓ Larger
Pearland
Texas
18
wins
Cost of Living Index
100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper
Median Household Income
$111,123 ✓ Higher
Violent Crime Index
25 ✓ Safer
Population
124,478
Pros & Cons
Auto-generated from official data — head-to-head differences and gaps vs the national average.
Palmdale, CA
Pros
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Cons
Median income trails Pearland by $32,709/yr
Violent crime (551.0/100k) is above the U.S. average of 380
Pricier housing — median home is $397,500
Living costs are well above the U.S. average (index 115.5)
Pearland, TX
Pros
83% less violent crime than Palmdale
Households earn $32,709 more per year on average
Stronger job market — unemployment is 4.2 pts lower (3.2%)
Homes cost $86k less ($311,100 vs $397,500)
More college-educated — 47.1% hold a bachelor's or higher
Violent crime is well below the national average (95.9 vs 380/100k)
Cons
Nothing stands out — a close match here.
Key Differences at a Glance
Palmdale
Summer Heat
4.3°F warmer
July avg high 97.6°F vs 93.3°F
Pearland
Cost of Living
15% cheaper
COL index 100.2 vs 115.5 (100 = US avg)
Pearland
Median Income
$32,709
$111,123 vs $78,414/yr
Pearland
Violent Crime
83% lower
95.9 vs 551.0 per 100k
Pearland
Median Home Value
$86k less
$311,100 vs $397,500
Pearland
Unemployment
4.2 pp lower
3.2% vs 7.4% unemployment
Full Data Comparison
| Metric | Palmdale, CA | Pearland, TX |
|---|---|---|
| 💰 Cost of Living | ||
| Cost of Living Index National avg = 100 · lower = cheaper | 115.5⚠ High | 100.2⚠ High ✓ Cheaper |
| Median Home Value | $397,500⚠ High | $311,100⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| Median Monthly Rent | $1,625⚠ High | $1,622⚠ High ✓ Lower |
| 📈 Income & Economy | ||
| Median Household Income | $78,414 | $111,123 ✓ Higher |
| Unemployment Rate | 7.4%⚠ High | 3.2% ✓ Lower |
| Avg Commute Minutes each way | 41.3 min⚠ High | 33.6 min⚠ High ✓ Shorter |
| Work From Home % | 7.9% | 10.3% ✓ Higher |
| 🔒 Safety | ||
| Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer · 60% violent / 40% property | 123⚠ High | 43 ✓ Safer |
| Violent Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 145⚠ High | 25 ✓ Safer |
| Property Crime Index 100 = national avg · lower = safer | 89 | 69 ✓ Safer |
| 🎓 Education | ||
| School Quality 100 = national avg · grad rate, staffing & attainment | C- (59) | A- (115) ✓ Better |
| Student-Teacher Ratio Lower = smaller classes | 23.2:1 | 16.2:1 ✓ Smaller |
| Bachelor's Degree or Higher | 16.7% | 47.1% ✓ Higher |
| High School or Higher | 76.6% | 94.8% ✓ Higher |
| School District Name only — no quality rating available | Palmdale Elementary | PEARLAND ISD |
| 🌤 Weather | ||
| Avg High — January | 59.5°F | 64.6°F ✓ Warmer |
| Avg High — July | 97.6°F ✓ Warmer | 93.3°F |
| Annual Precipitation | 7.3" ✓ Drier | 53.3" |
| Annual Snowfall | 0.0" | 0.0" |
| 👥 Demographics | ||
| Population | 166,895 ✓ Larger | 124,478 |
| Median Age | 33.0 | 36.2 ✓ Older |
| Homeownership Rate | 66.5% | 76.6% ✓ Higher |
| Under 18 | 29.0% ✓ More | 28.0% |
| Over 65 | 10.4% | 11.7% ✓ More |
Frequently Asked Questions
Palmdale's cost of living index is 115.5 vs Pearland's 100.2 (US average = 100).
Pearland is 15% less expensive overall.
Based on the 22 decided categories above, Pearland leads 18 of 22 categories. Palmdale wins 4 and Pearland wins 18. The right choice depends on your priorities — use the Pros & Cons and full table above to weigh what matters to you.
Whether you're moving from Palmdale to Pearland or relocating the other way, focus on the biggest gaps: housing ($397,500 vs $311,100 median home), income ($78,414 vs $111,123), safety, and schools — all covered in the full table above.
Palmdale, CA and Pearland, TX are about 1,375 miles apart (straight-line distance). Driving distance will be longer depending on the route.